This is Aliotsy with Adam and Erica — we’re in the town of Ulysses, Kansas, using wireless at the Single Tree Inn. Our riders cleared time station 23 and are moving at a great clip to time station 24 (if they’re not already there) rode through rolling hills last night in an area of Colorado so remote, everything but the grass and highway lit up by the headlights of our vehicles was absolutely impenetrable black. Brief flashes of electric blue lightning lit up the sky, but oddly not the ground. We had a few showers, which for the riders meant riding through 50 degree temperatures. Crew and cyclists are exhausted, trying to catch whatever sleep they can. We’re challenged by logistical changes that are taking us far off our pre-planned schedule (but also giving us better efficiency), malfunctions to equipment, and terrain and geography that cut out communication between cell phones, push-to-talk Nextels, and 2-way radios.

So words will not be enough to describe how absolutely overwhelmed we are by the support you’re showing the riders in the comments. I just read some comments over the phone to our riders in the shuttle, and it’s just the encouragement they need right now. This is the first time they’ve heard the comments from the blog — I’m going to be sure to pass ALL of them to crew and riders as soon as we make it to the next rendezvous point.

We are also overwhelmed by God’s tremendous grace to us these past few days, as over and over again we’ve been blessed by His presence and watchful care, protecting us from harm and serious injury, and divinely ordaining seemingly . The wonders we’ve seen are too many to name right now, but are best summed up by this story.

Rider Steve Jackura was heading out of a Colorado station when an official RAAM media crew vehicle pulled up beside him to take pictures, interview him, and give an update on our status (Kris isn’t kidding when she says you all know more about how we’re doing than we do!). Evidently, they’re impressed by our performance so far.

Finding out that we’re a team of Christians, he told us: “It’s obvious that God is on your side.”

Soli Deo Gloria!

Singing hymns and prayer in RV1 prior to heading out for another five-hour shift and the mountains of Utah and Colorado. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit sayeth the Lord.” Near Cow Springs, AZ (yeah, we’re not quite sure where that is either).

Day two for the 5 hour crew rotation started me out following a double shift navigating the rover position with Mr. Hill, followed by navigating for the follow vehicle with Mr. Thompson. The sheer necessity and sometimes frenzied moments spent in the rover vehicle; running between shuttles, RV’s, and substituting for the follow vehicle in times of night transitions and instances of relief, were an entire different breed than the strict attention to following distances and precision in directions when following the riders and watching for their safety and being their guide to the course. The trip overall has been an amazing adventure to have the experience to witness all of the majesty and beauty of God’s creation throughout the various states we travel to in our route, to see the limits we are tested individually; in recognizing strengths and weaknesses in ourselves, and corporately, in how we cover those in others, all while maintaining unity amongst ourselves and being a witness to Christ and our church. From nights where the sky is so clear you can see the Milky Way, to mountain passes and desert rock formations, these wondrous sites display the work of His hands.

On this particular day, I was able to witness Justin Morejohn powerhouse through a 6100 foot elevation change, averaging between 14-18 miles an hour; overtake a rival rider to put us in line for third overall. Watching Justin clearly was a sight to behold, and at one point at the steepest part of his climb, we came up along side of him playing a song I knew would get him pumped. Among other hill climbers were Ron Lewis and Rick Neptune, who after all completing this one peak climb, dramatically advanced our status; as the team we were constantly leap-frogging was left a comfortable distance behind us, we pulled into second overall for the corporate teams.

Solo Deo Gloria

TDLGV checked into Montezuma, UT at 12:45 AM CA time (03:45 Race Time).  Then on to Cortez, CO to check in at 3:34 AM CA time.  Predicted in Durango, CO around 6 AM CA time.  How is the sunrise, riders and crew?  We pray there is joy and strength for you in God. 

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
Awake, my soul!  Awake, harp and lyre!  I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. - Ps. 57:7-11

Justin Morejohn just after conquering the Continental Divide at Wolf Creek Pass

Please pray for continued unity in Christ for team and crew, soothing and healing of physical discomforts.

TDL Grace Valley checked in to Durango CO at 6:03 AM CA time.  Their average speed since leaving Oceanside is 20.55 mi/hr.  On the stretch from Montezuma UT to Durango CO they averaged 17.8 mi/hr.  They are predicted at Pagosa Springs CO between 9:30 and 10 AM CA time.  They checked in at 9:21 AM CA time, increasing their predicted speed!  Forecast high temperature at the next Time Station South Fork CO is 74 degrees where TDLGV is predicted to arrive around 11:30 AM CA time.  The team checked into South Fork CO at 11:42 CA time.  They are predicted to reach Alamosa CO at 1:54 PM CA time.  They check in at 1:46 PM.  They are predicted at La Veta CO around 4:30 PM CA time.  They check in at 4:42!  These brothers “consistently” amaze us!  They are predicted in Trinidad CO 7:30 to 7:50 PM CA time.  They checked in at 8:06 PM CA time - I’m always glad to see them check in, aren’t you?  Thank the Lord for every point along the way.  Next stop:  Kim CO at 11:30 to 11:50 PM, God willing.  Got word at 12:22 AM that they checked in at 11:32!  I waited up for that one.  They are predicted in Springfield CO between 2 and 2:30 AM CA time.  Godspeed dear ones in this good night!

Aliotsy called to find out when sunset is:  it’s 8:22 Mountain time (some rule about when to mount their light sets for night riding probably).  I hope they can figure out what that is in Race Time!  Is this Thursday?  It must be Colorado.

Team Donate Life Grace Valley has been listed on the front page of www.raceacrossamerica.org since the start of the race, since the standings for the first two places in each division are posted there.  They have been second in the field of eight 8-man teams (Corporate Challenge Division) since the beginning.  The standings for top 4 teams of 39 overall are holding.  The leading team is 8-man Team Type I - monitored by: Freestyle (all diabetic team).  They are way out in front 3 hours ahead of TDLGV.  The next two are the top-placed 4-man teams, Beaver Creek - Catlin (2 hours ahead of TDLGV) and Psycho (1.5 hours ahead of TDLGV).  The fourth team is 8-man TDL Grace Valley.  These standings have held since near the beginning of the race.  Fifth spot after TDLGV is being contested right now by three 8-man teams, Cheniere’s Making Cancer History Team, Team ViaSat, and North Coast Cycling Team, but they are nearly 2 hours behind TDLGV. 

The above was true around noon.  The team time gaps have widened since then till now (7:30 PM CA).  Cross-division leader Team Type I is about 4 hours ahead of TDLGV, 2nd Beaver Creek almost 3 hours ahead and 3rd Psycho 2 hours ahead.  TDLGV is in 4th cross-division place, and 5th place is vied for by four teams not three now, with Swiss 2-man Team IWC Schaffhausen catching up with two fifth place contenders, checking in at La Veta CO within moments of one another, and North Coast just a few minutes back.  Sounds exciting!  But all four teams are more than 2 hours back of TDLGV.

Aliotsy called from the road because the team wanted to know how they were doing.  We all know their race status before they do!  I believe they were encouraged.  I told Aliotsy of the many encouraging comments prayerful supporters are leaving, and Aliotsy will pass them on as soon as he can get internet capability.

 I like this chart to see how the teams are spread out.  Look for the magenta trajectory.  This RAAM fan has other informative charts.  TDLGV will soon pass the solo riders who started two days before the teams.  The Great Continental Divide looms.  I just looked up Wolf Creek Pass, the high point of the Continental Divide (Rocky Mountains) and it is between Durango and South Fork.  So if you noticed them slowing down about there, that’s probably why.  I heard a crew story about Justin Morejohn speeding up the steep Rockies (”unbelieveable!”).

Do you wake up in the night and wonder where TDLGV is?  Team Captain Dwight prepared a large (4 MB) PDF file of the RAAM route showing where the team is at 2 AM successive nights at different average miles per hour shown by different colored dots.  I recommend saving this file to your computer.  Use the + symbol to zoom in on map detail.  The team is averaging between 20 and 21 miles per hour. 

This Google earth view of the RAAM Time Stations just in from Jay.  Now we’re having fun! 

Jay:  Folks might like to check out landscape along the route. Just click on the time station on the left navigation bar and zoom in. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=115193474730590923301.000001121bb8f39a090fd&ll=36.597889,-95.888672&spn=30.038428,63.193359&t=h&z=4&om=1

Some of you guys have race fever - I can’t get the updates up for you fast enough!  Our team just keeps pouring it on as God gives grace, and we just can’t cool down!  There was a power outage, no computer - but fortunately the power came back on.  That’s why we all need the unlimited power from on high!  (Funny note - Aliotsy had called and said someone called him and wanted an update on the standings - I assumed it was the supporters who read this to keep informed.  The power failure delayed that update.  I finished writing the above after the power came back on.  Then Aliotsy called back.  “I just finished the update,” I said.  He said, “It’s the RIDERS that want an update!”  They are pretty incommunicado out there as far as information about the race itself.  I told Aliotsy which teams were in front and behind them and by how much.  So hear it here first!) 

From Judy - a song she sings with the little kids:

“Love Him in the morning, when you see the sun a’rising - love Him in the evening, ’cause He took you through the day. And in the inbetween time, when you feel the pressures rising, remember that He loves you and He promises to stay.”

Rick Neptune and the rover vehicle crew cheer on Justin Morejohn as the riders transition over to Greg Chapla at Salton City. Note: since this video was posted on the run, it will take some time to process and may not work. Please come back later and try again if you can’t watch it.

Putting stickers on our shuttle vehicle

Mark Thompson and Greg Chapla prep Greg’s bike

Mike and Aliotsy touch the Pacific Ocean — God willing, we’ll be touching the Atlantic in a week!

Justin Morejohn preps his bicycle

Team Donate Life Director Kent Mulkey chats with Erica Chaffin and Ron Lewis

Dwight Morejohn speaks about our cause with a team from Austria

Videographer Adam at the RAAM start line

Race officials inspecting our vehicles

Crew members at the race parade start

Team captain Dwight Morejohn at the race parade start

Ron Lewis and Greg Chapla at race parade start

Crew member Mike Camaren in Salton City, CA

Steve Jackura asks a race official about rule specifics in Salton City

The team reached Blythe, CA at 03:36 (12:36 AM CA time) with 26.35 mi/hr (!)  average speed since Chiriaco Summit.  They reached Hope, AZ at 06:08 (3:08 AM CA time) and Congress, AZ at 09:00 (6 AM CA time).  Their average speed since starting in Oceanside was 21.87mi/hr.  They checked in at Prescott, AZ at 8:48 AM CA time.  They are still second in the 8 man team standings after Team Type I - monitored by Freestyle (all diabetics team), who are in the team lead.  They passed one team, and now only 3 teams are ahead of them that started from Oceanside.  They checked in at Williams, AZ at 11:57 AM CA Time.  They are predicted to hit Flagstaff AZ Time Station 9 about 1:40 pm CA time - and they checked in at 1:45!  Their average speed since leaving Oceanside is 21 mi/hr.  The forecast high temperature is 82 degrees today for Flagstaff.

Check cool normalized team graphs.  TDLGV has the magenta trajectory in fourth place team overall!

Next Time Station:  Tuba City AZ where it is 89 degrees at 2 PM CA time and they are predicted to check in about 5:20 or 5:30 PM CA time.  God bless and Godspeed this afternoon! 

TDLGV checked into Tuba City AZ at 5:22 PM CA time, going 21.07 mi/hr since Flagstaff and holding their standing.  Aliotsy said by phone the team checked into Time Station 10 Kayenta AZ 6:30 PM or so even though RAAM has not posted it yet - making good time!  I just got back from GVCA graduation and see that RAAM says they checked into Kayenta AZ at 8:48 PM CA time, so something other than checkin was going on at 6:30 PM.  They rode through beautiful Grand Canyon country.  Heading for Utah now!  They’ve gone 650 miles since Oceanside.  It is now June 14 Race Time.  TDLGV is predicted to check in to Mexican Hat UT close to 10:55 PM CA time.  They checked in at 10:45 PM CA time doing 22.87 mi/hr since Kayenta!  It’s time to do a Mexican Hat Dance!  They are due at Montezuma Creek UT about 12:48 AM, CA time, God willing.  They check in at 12:45 AM.

After a delicious dinner of enchiladas, salad, and rice on the road (a very special thanks to Brittany Klein and Sarah Roby for their assistance in making sixty enchiladas for the team), the whole team was quite stuffed. Nevertheless, after we arrived at our (very, very comfortable) accommodations at Oceanside Marina Suites shortly before midnight, no one objected to an impromptu ice cream party to save several gallons of fudge ice cream Joan Roby had packed on dry ice.

After meeting many fellow Team Donate Life riders at breakfast, we caravaned down to the pier, where RAAM teams were gathering to have their motor vehicles and bicycles inspected by race officials. Team Donate Life’s six teams make up 20 percent of the field, the largest ever to participate in the Race Across America. The diversity of teams is astounding, including a team of UK firefighters raising money for children’s hospitals, teams from Australia and Brazil, and many US-based teams raising money on behalf of various charities. As riders prep their bikes and crew add official race decals to support vehicles, After the activity dies down, we have the opportunity to mingle with people around the world and visit the beach. A few of us go down to touch the Pacific - God willing we’ll be able to touch the Atlantic just over a week from now.

With everything prepped and ready to go, we attend a pre-race banquet, during which RAAM officials give us the latest updates on the status of the race.  The solo riders had left on Sunday, and many already received time penalties during the first 24 hours.  RAAM officials are very exacting in rule enforcement to ensure rider safety, and it’s our goal to absolutely avoid receiving penalties for the duration of the race.  We also learn that Greensburg, KS, one of the time stations on our route, was wiped out by a tornado a few weeks ago.  We’re reminded to be respectful as we pass through a place where dozens of families have lost everything.

We rendezvoused back at the hotel to prep for race day, having one last team meeting, including a surprise visit from Jonathan and Naomi Anderson (and her parents).  It happened to be Jonathan’s birthday, so we all sing happy birthday before praying as a team and heading to bed.

The next morning, after a whirlwind of packing and preparation and another birthday song (this time for Joan Roby!) and more prayer, we caravaned down to the start line to see the riders off.  Eight riders followed an initial parade route, before Rick Neptune split off to take the first leg of the race.  Four riders went with him in a shuttle vehicle — our rotation schedule has five cyclists rotating in roughly 15-minute intervals.  The remaining three riders get some rest, the two RVs move about 90 miles down the course, and the rover vehicle moves ahead of the pack to find a suitable parking spot for the RVs.  The follow vehicle, not surprisingly, follows the rider. Every five hours, all thirteen crew members rotate to different vehicles, three active riders retire, with three rested riders taking their place.

These transitions every five hours are the trickiest logistical points in our rotation, and the first one is made more difficult by the fact that motor vehicles and riders are on one of three separate routes for the first part of the race.  This led to a complication before the very first time station.  The shuttle and follow vehicle were caught in traffic, missing the initial rendezvous point with Rick Neptune. He ended up pulling an additional seven miles on his leg before the support vehicles were able to catch up and replace him with a fresh rider.  The race then curved up and down mountains in the southern California desert, giving our team the chance to hone their abilities at making smooth transitions.  By time station 2, in bleak Salton City, CA, we’d gotten a great rhythm going, with our riders averaging a speedy 23.25 mph.

See Team and Crew portraits at RAAM - 6/12/07

TDLGV has second best time into the first Time Station!  And then second Time Station!

TDLGV checked into the first time station at Lake Henshaw, California at 20:12 Atlantic City race time, which is 5:12 PM California time, with an average speed since leaving Oceanside of 19.42 mi/hr.  Of the eight 8-man Corporate Challenge teams, that’s the second best time!  Go TDLGV!  Godspeed!  At this pace they are predicted to arrive at the next Salton City Time Station at 23:13 Atlantic City race time, 8:13 PM in California. 

Nearly half an hour ahead of prediction, TDLGV checked into Salton City Time Station at 22:44 Race Time, 7:44 PM in California, flying 23.25 mi/hr since Lake Henshaw!  They are still in second place among the eight 8-man teams.  They are predicted to check into the next time station Chiriaco Summit, CA, at 00.58 AM Race Time, which is 9:58 PM in California.

Of all the teams that left Oceanside today, only four are ahead of TDLGV at Salton City, and at most only 15 minutes ahead, even though TDLGV started at Oceanside 25th of the teams because of their average age of 37 years (teams starting ahead of TDLGV had a higher average age).

They checked in at Time Station 3 at Chiriaco Summit at 01:03 Race Time, 10:03 PM in California, still 2nd in the standings.

Live Race Reports

See the RAAM Race Report for TDL-Grace Valley Corporate Challenge Team #604.  See the Order of Arrival at Stations Report to spot when Team #604 checks in to a Time Station relative to other teams

Coast-to-coast cyclists pedal for life
Starting gun fires today for grueling 3,000-mile round-the-clock ultra-marathon
WorldNetDaily June 12, 2007

Exclusive Breaking News - WorldNetDaily.com highlights a story about Team Donate Life and their motivating mission to increase the number of organ donors.  It tells the story of Joan Roby and her donation of her kidney to Simeon Trotter.  It tells readers that the effort of Team Donate Life Grace Valley is also about their faith and their church community.  WorldNetDaily.com is an online independent news service.

Saturday 9am

Anticipation for the race continued to build as the Davis-based cyclists finally got a chance to ride with teammate Rick Neptune, who flew in from Texas. Leaving at 9am with alternate Tracy Basso (Steve Jackura was already on his way down to Oceanside), the team went for a 37-mile loop around Solano Lake. Halfway through the course, Rick took the opportunity to test the results of months of intense training, challenging the team with a “Let’s go, guys!” and, as Marc Friedheim described it, “we just went red line all the way back home.” Asked how he felt about this last team ride before the race, Marc grinned with a pained look — “Intense.”

Saturday, 12:30pm

Gathering in the parking lot behind Grace Valley Christian Academy, cyclists and crew worked quickly to pack the motor vehicles with supplies for the race. On Friday, a group picked up a Ford Expedition and two mini-vans to serve as our rider shuttle, rover, and follow vehicles, respectively. The vehicles were then outfitted with RAAM-approved lighting and signboards, as well as decals for our sponsors and, of course, prominent signage for our cause: “Donate Life.”

As the riders were making their way around Solano Lake, a group of crew members drove to Sacramento to pick up two rental RVs that will serve as home bases for sleeping, food preparation, laundry, and race coordination – basically anything and everything that needs to be done to ensure the riders only concern for six days will be to compete at the peak of their abilities. Designated (creatively) RV1 and RV2, one will serve primarily as a crew and command vehicle, while the other will be a sleeping vehicle for retired riders.

With all five vehicles in the school parking lot, cyclists and crew attended to as many last-minute details as possible — packing every available storage space with food and supplies, discussing the elaborate schedule for crew rotations, and in Crew Chief Ken Jackura’s case, building custom platforms to hold the navigational laptops in the RVs.

Saturday 5:00pm

Saturday evening, most of the team members attend a prayer meeting in the sanctuary at Grace Valley Christian Center. Many of the prayers are for the upcoming race – prayers for safety of riders and crew; prayers for unity, patience, and humility among twenty-one individuals as we learn to work as a team in an ever-stressful challenge; and especially prayer that we maintain our focus on glorifying Christ in every way as we race for the cause of organ donation awareness and transplant research.

Sunday afternoon all vehicles are finally packed with bikes, equipment, crew and riders. Andy Hill demonstrates the nationwide walkie-talkies, the group prays together for success, safety, and unity in Christ, and Dwight waves farewell. “You hem me in - behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me” - Ps 39

The air is still crisp and cool as our team gathers in the early morning at the Davis Park ‘N Ride. Today’s six-hour simulation will be the closest we’ll get to the real thing before we leave the starting line less than a week and a half from now. While clearly an unparalleled physical test for the riders, the Race Across America also presents a complex logistical challenge for our team, as twenty-one individuals, eight bikes, and five motor vehicles – each with their own special roles – need to be accounted for and in position, 24 hours a day. Our goal sounds simple enough: always have a moving rider on the road at all times. On paper, though, some of the complexity is revealed, as it fills up a several-feet-long spreadsheet. Everything from rider transitions to sleep time is meticulously accounted for. Today’s simulation will put that paper plan to test.

Our rendezvous time was 7:30am, with the hope to be on the road by 8am. We have four motor vehicles for the simulation – an RV that serves as home base, a rider shuttle, a follow vehicle for the rider on the road, and a rover to ferry people between the other three vehicles. On the actual race, we’ll have an additional RV. As riders and crew start to attach bike racks to vehicles we encounter our first logistical hitch as Crew Chief Ken Jackura struggles with an
uncooperative GPS unit. Meanwhile, riders and crew start discussing the plan for the day. We have a 130-mile route planned, with fresh riders rotating in every hour, instead of every five hours. In some ways, the simulation is slightly more complex than the actual race will be, as there will need to be additional rider ferrying to account for the compressed schedule.

Actual experience has a way of poking holes into plans, and we’re finding that we need to make on-the-fly adjustments to ensure food and equipment are in the right place for the riders. Cell phones and radios are assigned to vehicles, and a cooler moved to the rider shuttle By the time everything is in place, it’s 8:50. On top of regular rider transitions, crew members will be switching vehicles at the 45 and 90-mile marks to get experience in the different roles.

Overall, the simulation goes pretty well. We find some glitches which will need some work — learning how to navigate via GPS on the fly is a challenge, as is figuring out the positions of other vehicles (especially when both cell phones and radios are out of range!). We
also encounter an unexpected obstacle – one of the roads on our course is closed, and vehicles that found out need to communicate an alternate route and plan to the rest of the team. At the end of the day, we end up completing a short, 100-mile course. There’s an
overwhelming consensus, looking back on the day, that we should continue to emphasize prayer all the more as we depart in a week for the real thing – prayer to be alert, to make wise decisions, and especially to maintain a spirit of unity as we encounter unexpected
difficulties.